It doesn't take a unicorn to create rad experiences

Much like the mythical unicorn of legends past, the "unicorn" designer who can code is considered rare and highly coveted. However, hybrid designers/developers do exist, and aren't nearly as mystifying or elite as the unicorn descriptor might imply. So, what does it mean to be a unicorn? How can we encourage and hire them? And when we're so obsessed over unicorns, what is it that we're really saying?

Transcript

1. Photo by julochka on Flickr Elea Chang @ GIANT conf IT DOESN’T TAKE A TO CREATE RAD EXPERIENCES unicorn
2. …CHARACTERISTICS …TRUTHS …HIRING …GLORIFICATION LET’S TALK UNICORN
3. Photo by julochka on Flickr unicorn characteristics
4. UNICORN CHARACTERISTICS DESIGN ` CODING 2 1
5. ` UNICORN CHARACTERISTICS DESIGN CODING
6. ` usability testing HTML wireframes CSS mocks JS branding copy back-end coding unit testing UNICORN CHARACTERISTICS DESIGN CODING
7. Photo by julochka on Flickr unicorn truths
8. 1 YOU HAD THE TIME/OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN DESIGN AND CODE UNICORN TRUTHS
9. 1 YOU HAD THE TIME/OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN DESIGN AND CODE (some people choose to learn and some people fall into it) UNICORN TRUTHS
10. 2 THERE WERE SOME TRADEOFFS UNICORN TRUTHS
11. 2 THERE WERE SOME TRADEOFFS UNICORN TRUTHS (you have a finite amount of attention and time)
12. 3 CONTEXT SWITCHING IS THE NORM FOR YOUR JOB UNICORN TRUTHS
13. 3 CONTEXT SWITCHING IS THE NORM FOR YOUR JOB (your day-to-day varies. A LOT.) UNICORN TRUTHS
14. 4 DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES GETS MURKY AT WORK UNICORN TRUTHS
15. 4 DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES GETS MURKY AT WORK (limits & boundaries? you’ll need ‘em) UNICORN TRUTHS
16. 5 YOU DON’T AUTOMATICALLY GET MORE LEVERAGE WITH WORK UNICORN TRUTHS
17. 5 YOU DON’T AUTOMATICALLY GET MORE LEVERAGE WITH WORK UNICORN TRUTHS (mileage will vary)
18. Photo by julochka on Flickr unicorn hiring
19. UNICORN HIRING DO YOU NEED A DESIGNER WHO CODES?
20. day-to-day? DO YOU NEED A DESIGNER WHO CODES? what’s the business? UNICORN HIRING what’s the product?
21. DESIGN ` CODING level of expertise? UNICORN CHARACTERISTICS
22. “I JUST CAN’T FIND ANYBODY GOOD” – HIRING PERSON UNICORN HIRING
23. “I JUST CAN’T FIND ANYBODY GOOD” – HIRING PERSON Good employees are not a fundamental right. UNICORN HIRING
24. “I JUST CAN’T FIND ANYBODY GOOD” – HIRING PERSON What are you offering, as a company? UNICORN HIRING
25. YOU DON’T HAVE TO HIRE TO GET A UNICORN. UNICORN HIRING
26. YOU DON’T HAVE TO HIRE TO GET A UNICORN. UNICORN HIRING CAREER DEVELOPMENT
27. YOU DON’T HAVE TO HIRE TO GET A UNICORN. UNICORN HIRING • create opportunities CAREER DEVELOPMENT
28. YOU DON’T HAVE TO HIRE TO GET A UNICORN. UNICORN HIRING • create opportunities CAREER DEVELOPMENT • $$ for learning
29. UNICORN HIRING - books - tutorials - bootcamps - mentors - workshops - conferences • create opportunities CAREER DEVELOPMENT • $$ for learning
30. DESIGNERS WHO CODE AREN’T BORN. THEY’RE CREATED OVER TIME. UNICORN HIRING
31. Photo by julochka on Flickr unicorn glorification
32. UNICORN GLORIFICATION WHY ARE WE FOCUSED ON ONLY ONE TYPE OF DESIGNER?
33. UNICORN GLORIFICATION DESIGNER WHO CODES = “UNICORN” DESIGNER WHO DOESN’T CODE = ??? designers who code are better than designers that don’t
34. UNICORN GLORIFICATION designers who code are better than designers that don’t Knowing how to code = better designer
35. UNICORN GLORIFICATION designers who code are better than designers that don’t Knowing how to code = better designer Focusing on design = better designer
36. UNICORN GLORIFICATION designers who code are better than designers that don’t Knowing how to code = better understanding of web constraints
37. UNICORN GLORIFICATION designers who code are better than designers that don’t Knowing how to code = better understanding of web constraints Experience = better understanding of web constraints
38. UNICORN GLORIFICATION BEING A DIFFERENT KIND OF DESIGNER IS JUST THAT: DIFFERENT (not better, not worse)
39. UNICORN GLORIFICATION WHY ARE WE FOCUSED ON ONE PARTICULAR CAREER PATH?
40. UNICORN GLORIFICATION 1 LEARN TO DESIGN 2 LEARN TO CODE
41. UNICORN GLORIFICATION this is THE way to work one way to work VS 1 LEARN TO DESIGN 2 LEARN TO CODE
42. UNICORN GLORIFICATION learn multiple areas of work hone skills in one area of work OR SHOULD YOU… ?
43. UNICORN GLORIFICATION learn multiple areas of work hone skills in one area of work OR SHOULD YOU… ? WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU!
44. LEAVE UNICORNS TO FAIRYTALES. LET’S CELEBRATE DESIGNERS FOR THEIR WORK, WHETHER OR NOT THEY CODE.
45. Photo by julochka on Flickr THANK YOU! @elea elea@in-essence.org